Kukla's Korner Hockey

Operated by the NHL for the past three years, the Coyotes have a permanent cloud of instability hovering over them because of the uncertainty of their future. As a result, Phoenix coach Dave Tippett and his men do their thing very much under the radar of the national spotlight. And they’ll tell you they’re just fine with that.

That’s likely about to change. One more win and they’re no longer going to be playing in near obscurity.

“Hope not,” smiled Smith after his 25-save shutout led the Coyotes to a 1-0 Game 4 victory at Bridgestone Arena. “Let’s just keep flying under the radar. It’s a nice way to go about it. We just have to stick with what we’re doing and not get too far ahead of ourselves.”

The script is the same here in the second round as it was during a first-round dispatching of the Chicago Blackhawks: Jump out to a series lead and push back just when it looks as though the opposing team is seizing series momentum.

When the Nashville Predators won Game 3 on Wednesday night, it gave the appearance of a series-changing night, the favored team figuring out its game. Here come the Preds was the prevailing thought.

But just like the Coyotes responded when the Blackhawks appeared to be turning the tables on them, Phoenix rose up Friday night with a clinical road performance. And by clinical, I mean nearly perfect.